The Rolling Stones, ‘Exile On Main Street,’ 1972
Exile On Main Street stands as a quintessential work in The Rolling Stones’ discography and a pinnacle of rock music. The album emerges from an atmosphere of turmoil and transformation for the Stones. Facing financial difficulties and the threat of severe taxation in the UK, the band relocated to the French Riviera to avoid heavy taxation. This escape to the Côte d’Azur set the stage for the chaotic and hedonistic recording sessions in the basement of Keith Richards’ Villa Nellcôte. This setting contributes to the album’s raw, spontaneous energy and thematic focus on excess and escapism. At its core, Exile On Main Street delves into themes of isolation, existential dread, and resilience, and these themes mirror the band’s personal trials, including the death of former member Brian Jones and the infamous violence at Altamont Speedway. The album’s conceptual framework captures a sense of weariness mixed with defiance, reflective of the band’s tumultuous journey during this era. The album’s lyrics often portray a world of excess and moral ambiguity, aligning with the personal and professional chaos the band experienced. Songs like Happy and Sweet Virginia encapsulate the carefree, rebellious spirit of the era, while tracks such as Shine a Light delve into the depths of redemption and introspection. The themes are consistent with the post-1960s disillusionment, portraying a world of both limitless freedom and inescapable despair. Mick Jagger’s songwriting is particularly notable for its blend of storytelling and introspective musings. The track Tumbling Dice tells a tale of gambling and seduction, drawing listeners into its infectious groove and enigmatic narrative. In contrast, Torn and Frayed addresses the fractured life of a musician with a sense of weary resignation, underlined by Jagger’s soulful delivery.
Exile On Main Street is a kaleidoscope of styles. The album intertwines rock, blues, soul, and country, marking both a return to and an expansion beyond the band’s roots. The Stones push the boundaries of their sound, with tracks like Ventilator Blues and I Just Want to See His Face illustrating their willingness to explore lo-fi aesthetics while incorporating elements of country twang and gospel harmony. The composition is characterized by its dense and layered sound, akin to a “tangled jungle,” where instruments weave in and out of prominence. This approach crafts a textured sonic landscape that demands attentive listening to unravel its complexity. The production of Exile On Main Street is notoriously unpolished, playing into the album’s appeal. Recorded in a makeshift basement studio with frequent interruptions by hangers-on, the sessions were fraught with technical challenges and personal struggles. This environment, however, captured the raw and edgy spontaneity that defines the album. Keith Richards’ nonchalant leadership during these sessions resulted in a dynamic, albeit chaotic, recording process. The album’s lo-fi quality enhances its authenticity, giving listeners the sensation of being present in the room where the music was created. The influence of Exile On Main Street is far-reaching, inspiring countless musicians across genres. Its gritty production and genre-bending composition have been cited as major influences by artists ranging from punk to indie.
Pink Floyd, ‘Animals,’ 1977
Pink Floyd’s Animals marks a pivotal shift in the band’s discography: It steps away from the contemplative introspection of prior albums like The Dark Side of the Moon (1973) and Wish You Were Here (1975), opting instead for a scathing sociopolitical critique. Animals is a concept album that draws inspiration from George Orwell’s Animal Farm. Unlike Orwell’s critique of communism, Animals targets the ills of capitalism. The album allegorizes societal classes as animals: pigs symbolize the corrupt elite, dogs represent the ruthless business class, and sheep depict the mindless masses controlled by the other two factions. Expressing a stark worldview, Animals critiques the sociopolitical climate of 1970s Britain. Its themes remain relevant, resonating with contemporary issues of inequality and political unrest. Given the period’s political backdrop, marked by economic strife and social change, Pink Floyd’s dystopian portrayal serves as an enduring reflection mirrored in today’s societal challenges. Roger Waters, the principal songwriter, brings a biting misanthropy to Animals, constructing a narrative that is both stark and evocative. The album opens and closes with Pigs on the Wing, a two-part acoustic piece contrasting the grim narratives of the longer tracks with a touch of personal reflection. These segments offer a glimpse of emotional warmth amidst societal decay. Dogs, co-written with guitarist David Gilmour, is a 17-minute opus that critiques ambition and betrayal in the corporate world. It harshly portrays the inevitable downfall of the ‘dog’—a metaphor for cutthroat businessmen—culminating in loneliness and regret. Pigs (Three Different Ones) targets figures of self-righteous authority with satirical bites and unflinching honesty, making pointed critiques of figures like moral activist Mary Whitehouse. Sheep revisits themes of conformity and eventual rebellion, underscoring a transformation from passive acceptance to active resistance. The lyrics’ satirical edge, especially in Sheep, uses humor to emphasize critique, including the subversive adaptation of Psalm 23.
Animals marks a departure from the lush, orchestral style of their previous work, Wish You Were Here, opting instead for a more raw and aggressive sound with heavy use of synthesizers and guitar work. The album blends progressive rock with punk influences, characterized by extended instrumental sections, which showcases the band’s proficiency in creating atmospheric soundscapes. While the album is dominated by Water’s thematic vision, with Gilmour contributing significantly to Dogs, the guitarist’s soaring solos add depth and intensity, epitomizing Pink Floyd’s rock pedigree. Recorded at Pink Floyd’s own Britannia Row Studios, the production bears the band’s trademark spatial dynamics and meticulous crafting. The collaboration, however, was fraught with tension, leading to Richard Wright’s reduced involvement and eventual dismissal. Yet, despite these dynamics, the album maintains cohesive unity, each track seamlessly flows into the next.
Led Zeppelin, ‘Led Zeppelin IV,’ 1971
Led Zeppelin’s untitled fourth album, often referred to as Led Zeppelin IV, captures a significant moment in rock history, effectively bridging the gap between the experimental zest of the 1960s and the heavy, introspective tone of the 1970s. The decision to release the album untitled was a deliberate move by the band, particularly by guitarist and producer Jimmy Page. It was a reaction against criticism from previous efforts, mainly Led Zeppelin III, which had received mixed reviews. By opting for anonymity through symbols chosen by each band member, the album distances itself from any preconceived ideas and challenges listeners to focus solely on the music. Thematically, Led Zeppelin IV is rich and varied, drawing influence from literature, mythology, and personal experiences. Songs explore mystical and allegorical elements, often reflecting Robert Plant’s interest in Tolkien’s fantasy world, as seen in The Battle of Evermore, which employs a narrative style that draws heavily from medieval and fantasy-inspired literature, incorporating imagery like “apples of the valley” and “seas of happiness.” The album’s themes often touch on an introspective and philosophical gound, as seen in the track Stairway to Heaven, which unfolds as a progressive journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening, making extensive use of metaphor and allegory. Going to California serves as a gentle respite with its poetic homage to the Laurel Canyon music scene, particularly Joni Mitchell. In contrast, the track Black Dog showcases a raw, primal energy, its lyrics reflecting themes of desire and unattainable love and Rock and Roll witnesses a joyous celebration of rock and roll’s essence. Led Zeppelin IV is marked by a synthesis of hard rock, blues, and folk. Jimmy Page’s role as producer not only defined Led Zeppelin’s aesthetic but also influenced the sound of ’70s hard rock and heavy metal. This confluence of styles allows the band to traverse a broad sonic landscape, encapsulated within only eight tracks. Rock and Roll is a fast-paced homage to the roots of rock music with its infectious energy and driving rhythm. The Battle of Evermore highlights the band’s folk influences, featuring a mandolin and acoustic guitar, while Misty Mountain Hop juxtaposes a heavier rock sound with theme-driven lyrics about 1970s counterculture. Meanwhile, Four Sticks experiments with complex rhythms and unconventional time signatures, showcasing John Bonham’s percussive prowess. When the Levee Breaks, the album’s closing track, features a blues-infused groove, heavily utilizing the iconic drum sound created by recording Bonham’s drum kit in a stone stairwell at Headley Grange.